Sven-Goran Eriksson's plans for a winter break have had to be postponed by 12 months due to Fifa's decision to organise international games over Easter next season.

Fifa have confirmed there will be international fixtures on Saturday March 26 and Wednesday March 30, the dates set aside for England's two home 2006 World Cup qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan.

Those dates encompass the early Easter weekend, meaning no top-flight domestic games can be played at that time as so many players will be absent. Several leading clubs are understood to be angry at the loss of two of the more lucrative dates from the domestic football calendar.

Some Nationwide League clubs could at least benefit, especially on Easter Monday, as they could still hold games if their players were not away on international duty.

However, the knock-on effect has also meant that Eriksson's wish for the immediate start of a two-year trial into a two-week winter break has had to be pushed back until the following season.

The England coach will, no doubt, be frustrated by the enforced postponement, although senior FA figures will do all they can to ensure the winter break is in place for the following season.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce has welcomed the scheduling of international fixtures around the Easter programme next season.

Allardyce said: "As a manager I don't have a problem with that idea. It will mean a respite from a hard, winter period. During December, January and February you can play over 20 matches.

"But we have to find a solution to fitting international fixtures into the domestic calendar. The problem is not going to go away."

However, Allardyce believes the top clubs and some of the leading figures in the game will be against this radical plan.

"The problem would seem to lie with the bigger sides, who might have 11 or 12 international players away at Easter," he said.

"They could be traipsing halfway around the world, then come back to the clubs who fund their wages and not be capable of playing.

"How can they be expected to perform in the Premiership after that? It would be impossible."